Modular sample store

ABSTRACT

A modular sample store including a storage area; a service area; a transfer area; a motorized robot with a lifting device and at least one platform; and a controller. The sample store service area includes one integrally formed cubic vat module and the sample store storage area includes at least one integrally formed cubic vat module. Each one of the aforementioned vat modules includes an essentially horizontal vat floor and four joining vat walls that are connected to the vat floor and that are leaving an open vat space. The modular sample store also includes upper side walls and a cover plate to close the sample store. Each vat floor and vat wall includes an outside liner and an inside liner, which outside and inside liners in each case are separated by a clearance. This clearance is essentially filled with a polymer foam material that provides fixation of the outside and inside liners to each other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to the thus integrally formed cubic vat module sandwich construction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/671,865, filed Aug. 8, 2017, (now U.S. Pat. No.10,834,918), which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 13/501,890, filed Sep. 26, 2012, (now U.S. Pat. No.9,723,832), which is the National Stage of International Application No.PCT/EP2009/063684, having an International Filing Date of Oct. 19, 2009,which designates the United States of America, and which InternationalApplication was published under PCT Article 21(2) as WO Publication No.2011/047710 A1, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

This patent application refers to a modular sample store for storingbiological, chemical and/or biochemical samples. More particularly, thisapplication refers to a temperature controlled modular sample store forstoring such samples at controlled temperature conditions, in the rangeof +25° C. to −20° C. Most particularly, this application refers to atemperature controlled modular low temperature sample store for storingsuch samples at controlled temperature conditions, in the range of −25°C. to −90° C.

According to aspects of the disclosed embodiment, such a sample storeincludes:

(a) a storage area for taking up a number of storage stacks, which areaccomplished for being inserted in an essentially vertical direction andfor storing sample containers therein;

(b) a service area that is located adjacent to the storage area;

(c) a transfer area that is located above the storage area and theservice area; (d) a motorized robot that is located in the transfer areaand that is movable in at least one essentially horizontal direction;and

(e) a controller (10) for controlling all actions and movements of themotorized robot (7).

Typically, the robot comprises a lifting device for lifting storagestacks at least partially out of the storage area and into the transferarea and for lowering storage stacks into the storage area and at leastone platform for transporting at least one sample container within thetransfer area.

2. Brief Description of Related Developments

Biological samples, such as body fluids (e.g. blood, urine, sputum orsperm), cells (e.g. bacterial cell cultures), or tissue samples (e.g.taken from human, animals or plants) are extremely temperature sensitiveand have to be cooled or frozen immediately after taking the samples inorder to prevent their destruction. Thus, an important aspect duringinvestigation of biological samples and temperature sensitive samples ingeneral is storage and provision of these samples in frozen state, i.e.at low temperatures. Storage and provision can be done in commerciallyavailable freezers (i.e. at temperatures of at most −18° C.), in a gasatmosphere that is cooled by dry ice (i.e. solid CO2) to −78.5° C., orin liquid nitrogen (at −196° C.). In addition, freezers operating withcompressors are known which provide storage temperatures of −35° C.(single-stage), −85° C. (double-stage), or −135° C. (triple-stage).

All these storage procedures and apparatuses are well known, but alsoprovide certain drawbacks. Samples stored at a temperature of −18° C.can exhibit destruction artefacts already after short storage termsbecause of growing ice crystals. Such ice crystal growth is considerablyreduced at dry ice temperatures and essentially does not take place inliquid nitrogen. However on the one hand, dry ice cooled containers warmup relatively fast as soon as all of the CO2 has sublimated. On theother hand, storage in liquid nitrogen is cumbersome and only possiblewith dedicated safety measures and appropriately educated personal.Especially for robotic or automated storage and withdrawal/provision ofa large number of samples there exist only very few of the knownsystems. Chemical samples (e.g. prepared reagent aliquots of definedconcentration) and biochemical samples (e.g. concentrated and purifiedenzymes) are known to be stored more and more in automatic storagesystems for large laboratories with the task of being provided andaccessible at any time. In so called “large stores” or “bio-banks”,storage temperatures of about −20° C. for chemical samples and of about−80° C. for biological and biochemical samples have proven to bereasonable.

From the patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,983 B1, an automatic storage systemis known. In a conditioned chamber, the temperature of which beingselectable in a range from −20° C. to +20° C., there are located tworing-like, nested shelves, which are rotatable around a common centralaxis, and which comprise a large number of horizontally orientated,superimposed shelf board positions. These shelf board positions can beaccessed by a robot that moves vertically and outside of the shelves.This robot is equipped with an especially articulated gripper mechanismin order to reach to an inner shelf board position by penetrating anadjacent outer shelf board position. This system has the advantage thatthe robot, and thereby the sample, are located within the coldatmosphere during the entire process of selecting the sample, and thatthe sample can be moved out of the store via a lock. However, thissystem seems to be rather limited in the number of shelf boards, whichresults in cooling down a relatively large volume that can take up onlya quite small number of samples. Moreover, a rather complex robotmechanism has to be utilized.

Another storage system for storing and providing frozen samples is knownfrom the patent application EP 1 939 561 A2. This document discloses acompact storage system and a related method for storing frozen samplesin such a compact storage system, which comprises a storage area withina thermally insulated housing that is equipped with a cooling device forcooling the storage area to at least −15° C. This compact storage systemcomprises revolving storage shelves in the form of a paternoster thatare arranged entirely within the cooled storage area. This compactstorage system also comprises a transfer area that is located above saidstorage area, a robot being movable in essentially horizontal directionswithin this transfer area. The robot is accomplished to load a storageshelf into or to remove a storage shelf from the uppermost position ofthe upper half circle of the revolving storage shelves. The robot canalso take out from a storage shelf or insert a single object into astorage shelf that is located at this vertex position of thepaternoster. The storage area of this system appears to be quitecompact. However, the mechanics of the paternoster have to be moved attemperatures down to −80° C.; because of the danger of frostcondensation and thereby blocking the mechanics of the paternoster,elaborate and expensive measures are believed to be essential.

Other storage systems of the company REMP AG (Oberdiessbach,Switzerland) are known, in which samples are stored at +4° C. or −20° C.(REMP Small-Size Store™), or in which samples are stored at −80° C.(REMP Bio-Sample Store). In the latter, a robot is implemented that isfully operable at −20° C.

Again another storage system is known from the patent U.S. Pat. No.6,694,767 B2. Below a working area with controlled atmosphere, in whicha robot with workplace is arranged, is located a thermally completelyinsulated storage space that is accomplished for storage temperatures of−85° C. to −80° C. Storage shelves with relatively small horizontaldimensions and numerous shelf boards superimposed to each other arevertically suspended in openings of the thermally insulating ceiling ofthe storage area. The storage shelves comprise an upper cover, thatcarries the storage shelf and that closes the opening in the thermallyinsulating ceiling in which the storage shelve is completely inserted. Arobot lifts such a storage shelf out of the storage area in order toallow accessing a particular shelf board by an appropriate tool forremoving a sample container from that shelf board of for depositing asample container on that shelf board. Although the CO2 atmosphere of theworking area is dehumidified in order to reduce condensation of H2O onthe cold surfaces of the sample containers during withdrawal of a shelffrom the cooled storage area, there is the danger of warming up or eventhawing the sample in the sample container. In addition, the timerequested for depositing a sample container in the sample store or fortaking out a sample container from this sample store is deemed to be toolong; especially when large numbers of samples have to be providedwithin a short time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The sample store according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment is nowdescribed in detail with the help of drawings that point to onepreferred exemplary embodiment without limiting the scope of thedisclosed embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a 3D graph of the smallest working embodiment of a lowtemperature sample store according to the disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross-section in an X-direction through thestorage area, the service area, and the transfer area of the lowtemperature sample store of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-section in a Y-direction through thestorage area and the transfer area of the low temperature sample storeof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a horizontal projection of the storage area, the servicearea, and the transfer area of the low temperature sample store of FIG.1;

FIG. 5A shows the vat side wall of an integrally formed cubic vat modulewith the air inlet and air outlet openings from the outside;

FIG. 5B shows the vat side wall of the cubic vat module of FIG. 5A withthe air inlet and air outlet openings from the inside;

FIG. 6A shows the inside of a vat space of a storage vat module and anarrangement of a guiding grid attached to guiding posts;

FIG. 6B shows the inside of a vat space of a storage vat module and anarrangement of a combination of the guiding grid and guiding posts withinserted storage stacks;

FIG. 7 shows a 3D cross section view in a Y-direction according to FIG.3, but viewed in the opposite X-direction;

FIG. 8A shows the robot inside the transfer area of the low temperaturesample store of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8B shows a sample container in the form of a microplate sized rackfor micro-tubes; and

FIG. 8C shows two such racks of FIG. 8B superimposed as the source plateand the destination plate during punching of a micro-tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a 3D graph of the smallest working embodiment of a lowtemperature sample store according to the disclosed embodiment. This is,in general, a sample store 1 that comprises a storage area 2 for takingup a number of storage stacks 3, which are accomplished for beinginserted in an essentially vertical direction and for storing samplecontainers 4 therein. This sample store further comprises a service area5 that is located adjacent to the storage area 2 and a transfer area 6that is located above the storage area 2 and the service area 5. Inaddition, the sample store comprises a motorized robot or transportassembly 7 that is located in the transfer area 6 and that is movable inat least one essentially horizontal direction. However, in anotheraspect the robot 7 is movable horizontally in an X-direction and in aY-direction as indicated on the right side of the FIG. 1. The robot 7comprises a lifting device or stack picker 8 for lifting storage stacks3 at least partially out of the storage area 2 in an essentiallyvertical or Z-direction and thus, into the transfer area 6. The liftingdevice 8 of the robot 7 also serves for lowering storage stacks 3 intothe storage area 2. The robot further comprises at least one platform 9for transporting at least one sample container 4 within the transferarea 6.

In the context with the disclosed embodiment, the term “samplecontainer” is to be understood as a standard multi-well microplateaccording to the ANSI/SBS standards 1-2004 and 2-2004 or a multi-wellmicroplate with comparable dimensions. The term “sample container” isalso to be understood as a rack for inserting micro-tubes as e.g.published in EP 0 904 841 B1; such racks may have similar or identicaldimensions as standard microplates. Further, the term “sample container”is to be understood as a cell culture flask that has similar dimensionsas a standard microplate and that can be stored in an essentiallyhorizontal position. A blood bag is another “sample container” in thecontext with aspects of the disclosed embodiment; such blood bags couldbe supported by a tray that has about the same footprint like a standardmicroplate.

This sample store 1 also comprises a controller 10 for controlling allactions and movements of the motorized robot 7. This controller may be acentral computer that is incorporated into the sample store 1; thecontroller may also be an external processor, to which the sample storeoperatively is connected.

The service area 5 of the sample store 1 comprises one integrally formedcubic vat module 11 and the storage area 2 of the sample store 1comprises at least one integrally formed cubic vat module 11. Each oneof said vat modules 11 comprises an essentially horizontal vat floor 14and four joining vat walls 15 that are connected to the vat floor 14 andthat are leaving an open vat space 16. Each vat floor 14 and vat wall 15comprises an outside liner 17 and an inside liner 18, which outside andinside liners 17,18 in each case are separated by a clearance 19 thatessentially is filled with a polymer foam material 20. This polymer foammaterial 20 provides fixation of the outside and inside liners 17,18 toeach other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to thethus integrally formed cubic vat module 11 sandwich construction.

There are different feasible embodiments of such sandwich constructionsfor forming an integrally formed cubic vat module 11.

In one aspect, said outside liner 17 may be a, powder coated, steelsheet, wherein said polymer foam material 20 is poly-urethane foam, andwherein said inside liner 18 is a multiplex plate 21 covered with astainless steel sheet 22. Utilization of a stainless steel 22 sheet forthe innermost surface of such an integrally formed cubic vat module 11is preferred, because it provides absolutely pore-free surfaces andsupport perfect cleaning.

In another aspect, other sandwich-elements are combined to an integrallyformed cubic vat module 11. Here, the outside liner 17 may be a powdercoated, hard plastic sheet, the polymer foam material 20 again ispolyurethane foam, and the inside liner 18 is a stable stainless steelsheet 22.

In the context of the aspects of the disclosed embodiment, the term“multiplex plate” is to be understood as “veneer plywood”, which isassembled from at least five middle layers (veneer layers) typicallyfrom beech, birch, spruce or maple, each middle layer having a thicknessof 0.8 to 2.5 mm. The number of middle layers varies according to thedesired total plywood thickness from 5 to 55 and even more. The visibleouter layers of the multiplex plates also vary considerably; there arepainted surfaces, veneers of other kind of wood, or metal claddings.Plates are compressed with adhesive or water resistant resins andmutually barred (i.e. cross bonded), the texture of the single middlelayers being offset typically by about 90°.

The elements (vat floor 14 and vat walls 15) of such an integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 are fixed to each other by welding the insideliners 18 to each other and by welding or gluing the outside liners 17to each other. Prior or after these fixings, the intermediate spaces 19are filled with polymer foam material 20. Alternatively, these elementsare fixed to each other by a dovetailed (preferably covered) connectionlike it is known from connections of wooden parts or sandwich plates; insuch cases welding preferably is carried out after connecting theelements, e.g. by partial gluing of the polymer foam material 20 fromadjacent elements.

As shown in FIG. 1 (see also FIG. 2), the sample store 1 also comprisesupper side walls 12 and cover plates 13 to close the sample store at itstop. The upper side wall plates 12, cover plates 13, front wall plate 24and a back wall plate 25 may be of a simpler sandwich construction thanthe vat floor and vat walls 15. The outside liner 17 may be a powdercoated, hard plastic sheet, the polymer foam material 20 may bepolyurethane foam, and the inside liner 18 is a stainless steel sheet22. Alternatively, the upper side wall plates 12, cover plates 13, frontwall plate 24 and a back wall plate 25 are of the same sandwichconstruction like the floor 14 and wall 15 of the integrally formedcubic vat module 11.

In one aspect the integrally formed cubic vat module(s) 11 of thestorage area 2 and the service area 5 have the same size. This providesthe advantage of larger number and thus, more economic production ofintegrally formed cubic vat modules. In another aspect each integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 is equipped with two upper side wall plates12 and one cover plate 13 that have the same length as one of the vatmodules 11. In consequence, a functional segment 23 of the sample store1 is formed by the elements: one integrally formed cubic vat module 11;two upper side wall plates 12; and one cover plate 13. A sample store 1may also comprise a front wall plate 24 and a back wall plate 25 toclose the sample store 1.

The smallest sample store 1 therefore (see FIG. 1) includes:

two integrally formed cubic vat modules 11;

four upper side wall plates 12;

two cover plates 13;

a front wall plate 24; and

a back wall plate 25.

Adding a second functional element (with one integrally formed cubic vatmodule 11; two upper side wall plates 12; and one cover plate 13) willdouble the storage capacity of a sample store (1). Adding a third suchfunctional element will triple the storage capacity of a sample store(1). It is thus clear to every skilled person that adding or removing afunctional segment 23 or module will not alter the functionality of thepreviously present functional segments 23 or modules of a sample store1. In order to fully support such scalability (for up-scaling as well asfor down-scaling) and for always enabling the robot 7 moving overpractically the entire transfer area 6 of a sample store 1 (before andafter adding or withdrawing a functional segment 23), each integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 of the storage area 2 and of the service area5 comprises leveled carrying structures 49 on the vat side walls 35 andvat longitudinal walls 41 (see FIGS. 2-5 and 7). These leveled carryingstructures 49 support horizontal rails 50 (see also FIGS. 1-3 and 8) formoving the robot 7 in an X-direction. Preferably, these horizontal rails50 of each functional segment 23 are of such construction that theyinter-digitate with the adjoining horizontal rails 50 of the neighborfunctional segments 23. Alternatively but not preferably, parts of orthe entire horizontal rails can be replaced to complete up-scaling ordown-scaling of a modular sample store 1.

The sample store 1 also comprises a number of storage stacks 3 that areinserted in an essentially vertical direction into the open vat space 16of one of the vat modules 11 in the storage area 2 and that areaccomplished for storing sample containers 4 in an essentiallyhorizontal position therein.

All sample stores may comprise an interface unit 26 that is located in apart of the transfer area 6, which is situated over the service area 5.The interface unit 26 comprises the service area 5 and a lock 27. Thelock 27 is accomplished for locking-in sample containers 4 into thesample store 1 and for locking-out sample containers 4 out of the samplestore 1. The lock 27 is accomplished as a drawer that is movable acrossthe vat wall 15 where the lock is situated. This drawer can be handdriven or motor driven; proper closing of the lock 27 is monitored bythe controller 10. In one aspect the robot 7 of the sample store 1 isimplemented for transporting at least one sample container 4 to and fromthe interface unit 26. Such a simple sample store according to a firstembodiment can be placed in a climatized or air-conditioned room, sothat the sample store 1 itself does not need to be equipped with ownmeans for conditioning the air inside.

The sample store 1 in one aspect is accomplished as a temperaturecontrolled sample store and comprises at least one temperature controldevice 28. This temperature control device 28 is accomplished forcirculating the air in the service area 5 and in the transfer area 6 ofthe sample store 1 and for controlling the air temperature to at most+25° C. Depending on the capacity of the temperature control device 28,lower temperatures such as at most +4° C., and in another aspect at most−20° C. can be controlled in-side a temperature controlled sample store.It is preferred to locate said at least one temperature control device28 (or two temperature control devices 28 if necessary) in workingconnection with the interface unit 26. It is especially preferred tolocate the temperature control devices 28 in connection with openings inthe front wall plate, where also a door 72 is located (see FIG. 1). Sucha door 72 can be used for service activities, when service work insideof the sample store is necessary.

A user interface (such as a touch screen), which is operativelyconnected to the controller 10, is provided close to the position of thelock 27 (not shown).

It is clear from the FIG. 1 that the interface unit 26 is providing thesample store with all facilities for moving samples into and out of thesample store (see e.g. lock 27), for controlling all facilities of thesample store (see controller 10), for controlling the air temperature inthe range from −20° C. to at most +25° C. (see temperature controldevices 28), and for entering the ample store (see door 72). However,each integrally formed cubic vat module 11 of the storage area 2 of thesample store may include a first air outlet opening 32 and a first airinlet opening 39 (cv. FIG. 3) located in a vat side wall 35. To thefirst air outlet opening 32 is connected a ventilator 29 for circulatingthe temperature controlled air in the integrally formed cubic vat module11 of the storage area 2.

A workstation 73 with liquid handling capability (such as e.g. a FreedomEVO® Assay Workstation of Tecan Trading, CH-8708 Mannedorf, Switzerland)can be installed adjacent to a modular sample store 1 to exchange samplecontainers 4 with the sample store 1 (see FIG. 1) using the lock 27 ofthe sample store 1. Alternatively, such a workstation 73 can beconnected to the sample store by a conveyor belt 79 that leads to asingle plate interface 78, which is located in the interface unit 26(see FIG. 4). In this case again, the lock 27 is used to open and closethe way into and out of the modular sample store 1. The motorized robot7 is able to remove a locked-in sample container 4 from the single plateinterface 78 by the help of a Z-module or sample container liftingmodule 53 (see FIG. 8A). This Z-module 53 is accomplished for lifting asample container 4, e.g. in the form of a microplate-sized micro-tuberack (see FIG. 8B) in a vertical Z-direction and for setting said samplecontainer 4 onto a first carrier 54 or onto a second carrier 55 of therobot 7. After picking-up the sample container 4 from the single plateinterface 78, the robot will deposit the sample container 4 in an in/outstack 77, in a pre-in/out stack or in a storage stack 3.

In such a temperature controlled sample store 1, the storage stacks 3are not equipped with individual insulating covers 69 as shown in theFIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, because it is essential that the temperaturecontrolled air can freely circulate in the entire inside of such atemperature controlled sample store 1.

The sample store 1 in another aspect is accomplished as a temperaturecontrolled low temperature sample store and comprises at least onecooling device 30 for cooling and controlling the air temperature to atmost −20° C. This cooling device 30 is accomplished for cooling andcontrolling the air temperature to at most −20° C. and for circulatingthe cooled air in the service area 5 and in the transfer area 6 of thesample store 1. This at least one cooling device 30 is located inworking connection with an interface unit 26. It is preferred to locatesaid at least one cooling device 30 (or two cooling devices 30 ifnecessary) in working connection with the interface unit 26. It isespecially preferred to locate the cooling devices 30 in connection withopenings in the front wall plate, where also a door 72 is located (seeFIG. 1).

The temperature controlled low temperature sample store 1 also comprisestemperature control devices 28 that are combined with the coolingdevices 30. It is especially preferred to install two temperaturecontrolling units, each of which is accomplished as a combination of atemperature control device 28 and a cooling device 30. Installation oftwo such temperature controlling units provides redundancy of thetemperature regulating instruments such that in case of failure of oneof these temperature controlling units, the other temperaturecontrolling unit will take over responsibility of temperature control.

It is clear from the FIG. 1 that the interface unit 26 is providing thesample store with all facilities for moving samples into and out of thesample store (see e.g. lock 27), for controlling all facilities of thesample store (see controller 10), for cooling and controlling the airtemperature in the range of −20° C. (see temperature control devices 28and cooling devices 30), and for entering the sample store (see door72). In addition, each integrally formed cubic vat module 11 of thestorage area 2 of the temperature controlled low temperature samplestore comprises at least one deep cooling device 31 for deep cooling theair to a temperature of at least −80° C. and at least one ventilator 29that are connected to one first air outlet opening 32 and to one firstair inlet opening 39 located in a vat side wall 35 for circulating thedeep cooled air in the integrally formed cubic vat module 11 of thestorage area 2 of the sample store 1.

In such a temperature controlled low temperature sample store 1, thestorage stacks 3 always are equipped with individual insulating covers69 as shown in the FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, because it is essential that deepcooled air in the integrally formed cubic vat module 11 of the storagearea 2 of the sample store 1 cannot escape the storage area 2 and cannotfreely circulate in the entire inside of such a temperature controlledlow temperature sample store 1.

In one aspect the at least one deep cooling device 31 and one ventilator29 are accommodated in one single common housing 36 (not shown), whichis located outside the vat module 11. The single common housing 36 canbe located in some distance to the temperature controlled lowtemperature sample store 1 (not shown) and it can be in workingconnection with each one of the vat modules 11 via cooling lines (notshown) that are connected to said first air outlet and inlet openings32,39 located in each one of the vat side walls 35 of the vat module 11to be cooled to low temperatures.

In another aspect each one of the integrally formed cubic vat modules 11of the storage area 2 of the sample store 1 comprises at least oneindividual first deep cooling device 31 and at least one individualventilator 29 that are accommodated in one common housing 36 (see FIG.3). This common housing 36 is located at the vat side wall 35 outsidethe vat module 11. This common housing 36 is in direct workingconnection with the respective vat module 11 via said first air outletand inlet openings 32,39. Of special preference is that each integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 of the storage area 2, according to thissecond variant, comprises second air outlet and inlet openings 34,40situated in the vat side wall 35 (see FIGS. 5 and 7), to which secondair outlet and inlet openings 34,40 is connected an individual seconddeep cooling device 33, which is located in a separate housing 37 at thevat side wall 35 outside the vat modules 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). In oneaspect, a deep cooling device 31,33 comprises a deep cooling aggregate80 and an evaporator 81 (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, the positions ofthe ventilator 29 and the evaporator 81 of an individual deep coolingdevice 31,33 can be switched, so that the ventilator 29 is located ontop of the evaporator 81 (not shown).

Selection of the cooling capacity of the individual first and seconddeep cooling devices 31,33 may be such that in the everyday duty, thefirst and second deep cooling devices 31,33 are only working with atleast 50% of their cooling capacity. In the case of failure of one ofthese deep cooling devices 31,33 (both dedicated to a single vat module11), the still working device can take over at least a considerable partof the cooling capacity of the defective device. Taking over suchresponsibility can result in about 80% of the every day coolingcapacity, enabling a more limited handling of the sample containers 4stored in the respective storage stacks 3. However, providing fullcooling capacity by the still working deep cooling device 31 or 33 ispreferred. In consequence, full deep cooling capacity is guaranteed alsoin the case of failure of one of these deep cooling devices 31,33. As aresult, full sample integrity is guaranteed.

In an alternative arrangement, but not departing from the spirit of thepreset invention, one part for the common housing 36 can be located ontop of the other (see FIG. 3, dashed lines). Thus, the aggregate 80 willbe located on top of the evaporator 81.

The temperature controlled low temperature sample store 1 of the aspectsof the disclosed embodiment may be equipped with air stopping means thatallow functional separation of individual deep cooling components fromthe vat space 16 or vat spaces 16. This is achieved in that each one ofsaid first and second air outlet openings 32,34 and each one of saidfirst and second air inlet openings 39,40 is equipped with a shutter 38.These shutters 38 are accomplished for closing the respective openings32,34,39,40 and thus separating one of a ventilator 29, a combination ofa first deep cooling device 31 and a ventilator 29, and a combination ofa second deep cooling device 33 and a ventilator 29 from the integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 of the storage area 2 of the sample store 1to which said openings 32,34,39,40 guide. These shutters 38 may be motordriven and controlled in their position by the controller 10. As thecontroller 10 may also receive information about the status of theaggregate 80 and of the evaporator 81, individual automatic deicing ofthe first and second deep cooling devices 31,33 is possible. During sucha deicing procedure, the other deep cooling device is in operation inorder to provide sample integrity, i.e. in order to prevent the samplesin the sample containers 4 from being heated to too high temperatures.

Because of equipping each storage vat module 11 with shutters 38,functionally disconnecting accessories, like ventilators and deepcooling devices from the storage vat modules allows full servicing ofthese accessories without being obliged to thaw and empty a storage vatmodule. Also thawing of a single storage vat module can be carried outwhile all other storage vat modules are kept in operation and attemperatures down to −90° C.

To achieve more homogeneous distribution of deep cooled air inside thestorage vat modules 11, each vat module 11 of the storage area 2 alsocomprises an air out channel 42 and an air in channel 43 (see FIG. 5A).These two channels 42,43 are situated at the inside of the vat side wall35 (see FIG. 7) and these two channels 42,43 mouth to inner openings 44.The inner openings 44 lead to the vat space 16 of each vat module 11 ofthe storage area 2. The air out channel 42 is connected to the airoutlet openings 32,34 and the air in channel 43 is connected to the airinlet openings 39,40 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Each one of said inneropenings 44 is located close to a longitudinal vat wall 41 that joinsaid vat side wall 35 (see FIG. 5B), and two air guiding blades 45 withventilation holes 46 are positioned in a distance 47 to one or the otherof the longitudinal vat walls 41 for distributing deep cooled air to orcollecting deep cooled air form the vat space 16 (see FIG. 5B).

Each construction part selected from the group comprising the integrallyformed cubic vat modules 11, the upper side walls 12, and the coverplates 13 has mechanical connecting elements 48 for reversiblyconnecting two of these construction parts mutually. Such mechanicalconnecting elements advantageously are accomplished as a hook-liketension catch in the one construction part and a respective lockingplate in the other construction part. On the one hand, closelyconnecting two construction parts is achieved, and on the other handrelatively simple separation is possible later. Special tools to movethe hook-like tension catches in order to exert higher forces may beused. Embedding these tension catches and locking plates in the polymerfoam material allows exertion of such forces without releasing thesetension catches and locking plates from their seats. As can be seen fromthe FIGS. 1 to 5, 7 and 8, on all connecting surfaces between theconstruction parts of a sample store 1, a temperature controlled samplestore 1, or a temperature controlled low temperature sample store 1,there are at least one, or more than one, or a series of mechanicalconnecting elements 48 present for mutually connecting theseconstruction parts in reversible manner.

As mentioned earlier, for enabling the robot 7 moving over practicallythe entire transfer area 6 of a sample store 1, each integrally formedcubic vat module 11 of the storage area 2 and of the service area 5comprises carrying structures 49 on the vat side walls 35 and vatlongitudinal walls 41 (see FIGS. 2-5 and 7). These carrying structures49 support horizontal rails 50 (see also FIGS. 1-3 and 8) for moving therobot 7 in an X-direction.

The motorized robot 7 comprises an insulated hood 51 that is located inthe transfer area 6 (see FIG. 8A). The robot 7, when using the liftingdevice 8, is capable to lift an entire storage stack 3 out of itsoriginal vat space 16 and into said insulated hood 51. The robot 7 isthus capable to transport the storage stack 3 inside of said insulatedhood 51 within the transfer area 6 and to lower the storage stack 3 intoa deep cooled vat space 16 of another integrally formed cubic vat module11 of the sample store storage area 2. Alternatively, the robot cantransport the storage stack 3 inside of said insulated hood 51 withinthe transfer area 6 and lower the storage stack 3 into the vat space 16of the inter-face unit 22; such a stack 3 then is rendered to aso-called in/out stack 77 (see FIG. 4), which—e.g. after being heated to−20° C.—can be withdrawn from the sample store 1 via the lock 27.

In/out stacks 77 can permanently be located in the interface unit 26 aswell (see FIG. 4). In such case, the motorized robot 7 will only liftand lower these in/out stacks the same way as he does with the storagestacks 3 in the storage area 2. These in/out stacks therefore can beused as intermediate storage places for adapting sample containers 4 tothe temperature of the interface unit (which may be −20° C.). Thistemperature adaption can be advantageous when loading sample containers4 into the sample store 1 as well when taking sample containers 4 out ofthe sample store 1.

The motorized robot 7 comprises an insulated hood 51 that is located inthe transfer area 6 (see FIG. 8A). The robot 7, when using the liftingdevice 8 is capable to partially lift a storage stack 3 into saidinsulated hood 51. Actually, FIG. 8A shows lifting of a stack 3 at anearly stage, the stack 3 being still almost entirely inserted in the vatspace 16. The stack 3 then will be lifted up to a level, which isaccessible by a spatula or picker 52 of the robot 7 (see FIG. 8A). Thisspatula is accomplished to be moved into the insulated hood 51 and belowa certain sample container 4. When the spatula is inserted into theinsulated hood 51, it is preferred that the lifting device 8incrementally lowers the stack 3 (e.g. by a few mm), thus enabling theselected sample container 4 to lay on the spatula 52 without contactingmutual storage webs 68 (see FIG. 6B) that previously carried the samplecontainer 4. The robot 7 is accomplished to move said certain samplecontainer 4 out of the storage stack 3 in horizontal direction. Therobot 7 is further accomplished to move this or another sample container4 into the storage stack 3 in horizontal direction.

When cooling the entire modular sample store 1 only down to atemperature of about −20° C., the motorized robot 7 may be void of aninsulated hood 51, because at temperatures between +25° C. and −20° C.there is practically no temperature difference between the storage area2, the transfer area 5, and the interface unit 26. Thus, utilization ofan insulated hood 51 is not necessary. In consequence when using thelifting device 8, the motorized robot 7 is capable of partially liftinga storage stack 3 up to a level, which is accessible by its spatula 52(see FIG. 8A). The spatula 52 is accomplished to be moved into thelifted storage stack 3 and below a certain sample container 4. When thespatula is inserted into the storage stack 3, it is preferred that thelifting device 8 incrementally lowers the stack 3 (e.g. by a few mm),thus enabling the selected sample container 4 to lay on the spatula 52without contacting mutual storage webs 68 (see FIG. 6B) that previouslycarried the sample container 4. The robot 7 is accomplished to move (bywithdrawal of the spatula 52) said certain sample container 4 out of thestorage stack 3 in a horizontal direction and to move this or anothersample container 4 into the storage stack 3 in horizontal direction.

In order to be able to temporarily keep and transport one samplecontainer 4, the robot 7 comprises the platform 9 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and8). This platform 9 comprises two carriers 54,55. As mentioned earlier,the robot 7 further comprises a Z-module 53 (see FIG. 8A) for lifting asample container 4, e.g. in the form of a microplate-sized micro-tuberack (see FIG. 8B), from the spatula 52 in a vertical Z-direction andfor setting said sample container 4 onto the first carrier 54 or ontothe second carrier 55. Both carriers 54,55 are individually movable in ahorizontal X-direction and in a horizontal Y-direction that isperpendicular to the X-direction.

The robot 7 comprises a punching device 56 for pushing a micro-tube outof a compartment 57 of a first microplate-sized micro-tube rack orsource plate 58 into a compartment of a second microplate-sizedmicro-tube rack or destination plate 59 (see FIG. 8C). For carrying outthe so-called punching process, the source plate 58 may be located abovethe destination plate 59 and the punching device 56 is accomplished topushing down a micro-tube in vertical Z-direction. Similar punchingdevices are known from e.g. EP 0 904 841 B1.

For safer storing the storage stacks 3 with the sample containers 4 inthe vat space 16 of the storage area vat modules 11, each integrallyformed cubic vat module 11 of the sample store storage area 2 comprisesa guiding grid 60 (see FIG. 6A) that is located in the vat space 16.This guiding grid 60 is supported by guiding posts 61 (see FIGS. 6A and6B) standing on the vat floor 14. This guiding grid 60 is defining anarray of apertures 62 (see FIG. 6B) adapted to the size of storagestacks 3. Each one of the storage stacks 3 is accomplished to bevertically movable in one of these apertures 62. The guiding posts 61partly engage slide grooves 63 (see FIG. 6B) located on two oppositevertical sides of the storage stacks 3 and guiding vertical movement ofthe storage stacks.

In one aspect, the storage stacks 3 comprise lateral support flanges 64(see FIG. 6B) with carrying webs (not shown) that carry the weight of astorage stack 3 when it is lowered to its lowermost position in the vatspace 16, the carrying webs of the lateral support flanges 64 beingsupported by the guiding grid 60.

In another aspect, the storage stacks 3 comprise an individual trunnion65 at their lower end (see FIG. 6B). Said trunnion 65 carries the weightof a storage stack 3 when it is lowered to its lowermost position in thevat space 16 by abutting the vat floor 14.

Orientation pins 74 serve for orientating and positioning of the lowerends of the guiding posts 61. Such orientation pins 74 may be providedas welded bolts that are fixed onto the stainless steel sheet 22 of thevat floor 14 inside liner 18 (see FIG. 6A). Alternatively, theorientation pins 74 are provided as welded bolts that are fixed onto aseparate stainless steel plate (with or without a number of additionalholes in it) that is positioned on top of the stainless steel sheet 22of the vat floor 14 inside liner 18 (not shown).

In order to be lifted by the lifting device 8 of the robot 7, eachstorage stack 3 comprises at its upper end a carrying element 66 (seeFIG. 6B) that is engageable by the lifting device 8 and that is attachedto a carrying structure 67 with lateral support flanges 64 that areequipped with mutual storage webs 68 for supporting one sample container4 on top of the other and in a horizontal position (see FIG. 6B). Atleast a part of the carrying element 66 is made of a metal that can bedetected by an orientation (not shown) sensor that works on an inductiveor capacitive principle. With the help of such an orientation sensor,the motorized robot 7 is able to detect the actual position of thecarrying element 66, which greatly facilitates controlling the necessarymovements (down, horizontal, and up) of a carrying head of the liftingdevice (not shown) that is used to engage the carrying element 66 of astorage stack 3.

The motorized robot 7 is moving and acting in a three dimensionalCartesian coordinate system as indicated in FIG. 1. When e.g. loadingsample containers 4 into the sample store or when retrieving samplecontainers 4 from the sample store 1, the controller 10 directs therobot 7 to the average position of a particular storage stack 4 orin/out stack 77. When arriving at this average position, a robot 7 thatis equipped with such an orientation sensor can more easily and moreexactly find the best position for engaging the carrying element 66 ofthe particular storage stack 3 as a result of a self-teaching operation.Later, the controller 10 notes these exact positions and it will then beable to instantly send the motorized robot 7 again to this more exactposition thanks to the teaching of the robot 7.

As described earlier, each storage stack 3 of a temperature controlledlow temperature sample store 1 comprises an individual insulating cover69 at its upper end (see also FIG. 7). The carrying element 66 of thisstorage stack 3is located in a depression 70 on the upper side of theindividual isolating cover 69 (see FIG. 6B).

It is known that storage at low temperatures may cause condensation ofwater vapor contained in the gas atmosphere. In order to minimize or toavoid such frost deposition, each storage stack 3 comprises surfaces towhich is applied an anti-frost coating 71. Of special interest for theapplication of such anti-frost coatings are the surfaces of the mutualstorage webs 68, which directly come into contact with the samplecontainers 4 to be stored. Other surfaces of special interest for theapplication of such anti-frost coatings are the surfaces of the guidingposts 61 and the sliding grooves 32 that interact with these guidingposts (see FIG. 6B). Coatings that can avoid or reduce frost depositionare known from e.g. EP 0 925 333 B1 and EP 0 352 180 B1, whereinanti-frost coatings from non-protein origin are preferred (see EP 0 352180 B1).

The sample store 1, the temperature controlled sample store 1, and thetemperature controlled low temperature sample store 1 according to thedisclosed embodiment as well enable methods for storing and providingsamples. One exemplary storage method for storing and providing samplesin a sample store 1, includes:

(a) storing samples in a storage area 2 for taking up a number ofstorage stacks 3, which are accomplished for being inserted in anessentially vertical direction and for storing sample containers 4therein;

(b) providing a service area 5 that is located adjacent to the storagearea 2;

(c) providing a transfer area 6 that is located above the storage area 2and the service area 5;

(d) providing a motorized robot 7 that is located in the transfer area 6and that is movable in at least one essentially horizontal direction,the robot 7 comprising:

i) a lifting device 8 for lifting storage stacks 3 at least partiallyout of the storage area 2 and into the transfer area 6 and for loweringstorage stacks 3 into the storage area 2; and

ii) at least one platform 9 for transporting at least one samplecontainer 4 within the transfer area 6; and

(e) controlling all actions and movements of the motorized robot 7 witha controller 10.

The exemplary storage method for storing and providing samples ischaracterized in that the sample store 1 service area 5 is provided withone integrally formed cubic vat module 11 and the sample store 1 storagearea 2 is provided with at least one integrally formed cubic vat module11. Each one of said vat modules 11 comprise an essentially horizontalvat floor 14 and four joining vat walls 15 that are connected to the vatfloor 14. Each one of said vat modules 11 leaves an open vat space 16.In addition, the sample store 1 is closed by also providing upper sidewalls 12 and a cover plate 13. Moreover, each vat floor 14 and vat wall15 comprise an outside liner 17 and an inside liner 18. The outside andinside liners 17,18 in each case are separated by a clearance 19 that isessentially filled with a polymer foam material 20. This polymer foammaterial 20 provides fixation of the outside and inside liners 17,18 toeach other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to thethus integrally formed cubic vat module 11 sandwich construction.

Storing of a sample comprises the following steps:

(a) identifying and inserting a sample container 4 via a lock 27 into aninterface unit 26 of the sample store 1;

(b) moving the sample container 4 with the robot 7 to a selected storagestack 3 with an empty storage position and positioning the samplecontainer 4 on a spatula 52;

(c) lifting the selected storage stack 3 by the lifting device 8 of therobot 7 to a level that the empty storage position of the storage stack3 is reachable by the sample container 4 positioned on the spatula 52;

(d) inserting into the empty storage position of the storage stack 3 thespatula 52 with the sample container 4 positioned thereon;

(e) lowering the storage stack 3 for an incremental distance to placethe sample container 4 on lateral support flanges 64 of the storagestack 3;

(f) withdrawing the spatula 52 from the storage stack 3; and

(g) lowering the storage stack to its lowermost position in the vatspace 16 of the integrally formed cubic vat module 11 of the samplestore storage area 2.

The spatula 52 comprises at least one parking position for placing asample container 4. It is however especially preferred to equip thespatula with two parking positions for placing two sample containers 4on the spatula (see FIG. 8A).

Identifying a sample container 4 comprises at least one of the followingsteps:

reading of a machine readable identifier of the sample container 4;

reading of additional information provided by the machine readableidentifier; and

measuring the average temperature of the sample container.

As known to skilled persons, machine readable identifiers comprisebarcodes (ID, 2D, or 3D), RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identificationtags), RuBee tags, and combinations of the same. The selected storagestack 3 with an empty storage position is chosen by the controller 10according to at least one of:

the identifier of the sample container 4;

the additional information provided; and

the average temperature of the sample container.

In order to read such machine readable identifiers, the sample store 1is equipped with appropriate reading devices, such as barcode readersand RFID transponders. The reading devices are located next to the lock27 and/or within the lock 27.

The selected storage stack 3 with an empty storage position is apre-in/out storage stack or a permanent storage stack. Preferredidentifiers comprise a name, a combination of alphabetic characters, acombination of numbers, a logo, and combinations thereof. The additionalinformation may comprise information about the content of the samplecontainer 4, information about an individual, the sample has been takenfrom, information about intended processing of the sample, informationabout processing to be avoided, information about maximum storagetemperature, information about maximum storage time, and informationabout biohazard potential. Means for measuring the average temperatureof the sample container comprise infrared temperature sensors.

The air in the storage, service, and transfer areas 2,5,6 of the samplestore 1 may be kept at a temperature in the range from +25° C. to −20°C. for storing a sample. In one aspect the air in the storage area 2 maybe kept at a temperature in the range from −20° C. to −90° C. andkeeping the air in the service and transfer areas 5,6 may be kept at atemperature of −20° C. for storing biological samples.

In one aspect one storage method enables shortening of transferdistances inside the sample store 1 and comprises providing one or morepre-in/out stacks within the integrally formed cubic vat module 11 ofthe storage area 2, which is located adjacent to the integrally formedcubic vat module 11 of the service area 5. For this purpose, theinterface unit 26 of the sample store 1 that comprises the lock 27 islocated in that part of the transfer area 6 of the sample store 1 thatis located above and that comprises the service area 5. Another storagemethod comprises keeping the temperature of the cooled air within thevat space 16 of the integrally formed cubic vat module 11 that containsthe pre-in/out stacks at a temperature lower than −80° C., and in oneaspect at −90° C., for compensating heat input by sample containers 4arriving from the lock 27.

In one aspect a storage method, in which the motorized robot 7 that iscontrolled by the controller 10 inserts sample containers 4 into storagestacks 3 or withdraws sample containers 4 from storage stacks 3according to a certain job request may be provided. The controller 10forces the motorized robot 7 to interrupt a requested job, if thelongest allowable presence of one of the sample containers 4 ormicro-tube in that sample container 4 has reached a limit that has beenset according to additional information, which has been provided by themachine readable identifier when locking-in the particular samplecontainer 4 or micro-tube into the sample store 1.

The same reference numbers relate to the same features in the attachedFIGS. 1-8, even when not in all cases these features are addressed indetail in the written disclosure of the specification. Now by way of anexample, some dimensions are given for aspects of the disclosedembodiment of a modular sample store 1. These dimensions may varyaccording to the special requirements of a laboratory or building, themodular sample store is to be placed. In this exemplary embodiment is:

The length (in Y direction) of a vat module 11 2.35 m

The width (in X-direction) of a vat module 11 1.30 m

Thickness of the front and back wall plates 24,25 0.40 m

Thus, the footprint of the smallest modular sample store 1 (consistingof an interface unit 26 and one single functional segment 23 with astorage area 2) with these exemplary vat modules 11 measures 3.40 m×2.35m.

For an exemplary temperature controlled low temperature sample store 1,which provides a storage temperature of −80° C. and a transfer areatemperature of −20° C., the following dimensions of the clearance 19(essentially filled with polymer foam material 20) between the outsideand inside liners 17,18 are preferred:

Vat floor 14 (see FIGS. 2,3): 150 mm

Vat longitudinal wall 41 (see FIG. 2): 75 mm

Vat wall 15 (see FIGS. 3,5A): 125 mm

Vat side wall 35 (see FIG. 3,5B): 125 mm

Vat upper side wall 12 (see FIG. 3): 150 mm

Cover plate 13 (see FIG. 3): 100 mm.

A single storage stack 3 may have the following dimensions:

Total height in Z-direction: 795 mm

Length of the insulating cover 69 in Y-direction: 155 mm

Width of the insulating cover 69 in Y-direction: 98 mm.

Given the above dimensions of a modular sample store 1 and the exemplarydimensions of a storage stack 4, the maximum number of stacks in thisexemplary modular sample store 1 is 110 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Inconsequence, the maximum storage capacity of this exemplary modularsample store 1 is for:

Standard 96 deep well microplates: 1320

Standard 96 half deep well microplates: 2310

Standard 384 well microplates: 2860.

It is expressly pointed to the fact that when using insulating covers 69for thermally isolating the storage area 2 from the transfer area 6,there may be is an air gap of about 1 mm between the adjacent individualinsulating covers 69.

Each addition of a storage vat module 11 to the modular sample store 1will add the above numbers to an already existing sample store 1. So, if5 storage vat modules 11 are combined with an interface unit 26, a totalnumber of e.g. 11′550 standard 96 half deep well microplates or 14′300standard 384 well microplates can be stored in a sample store with afootprint of 8.60 m×2.35 m.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide an alternatestorage system that has been introduced at the beginning and thatremoves or at least minimizes the drawbacks known from the prior art.

One additional aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide analternate low temperature storage system that removes or at leastminimizes the drawbacks known from the prior art.

One further aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide a storagesystem that can be assembled on a customer's site more easily.

One more aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide a storagesystem that easily can be modified into a larger or smaller storagesystem on a customer's site.

The basis for reaching all the aspects of the disclosed embodiment, withrespect to an alternate storage system that has been introduced at thebeginning, is an integrally formed cubic vat module. In the smallestfunctional embodiment, the sample store storage area and the samplestore service area each comprises one such vat module with anessentially horizontal vat floor and four joining vat walls that areconnected to the vat floor and that are leaving an open vat space. Thesample store also comprises upper side walls and a cover plate to closethe sample store. Each vat floor and vat wall comprises an outside linerand an inside liner, which outside and inside liners in each case areseparated by a clearance essentially being filled with a polymer foammaterial. This polymer foam material in its cured state providesfixation of the outside and inside liners to each other as well asthermal insulation of and reinforcement to the thus integrally formedcubic vat module sandwich construction.

Additional features according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment aredescribed above.

Advantages of a sample store according to aspects of the disclosedembodiment include:

1. The elements of a sample store, such as vat module, upper side walls,and cover plate can be prefabricated, assembled and tested at themanufacturer's site, disassembled, transported by standardtransportation vehicles and through standard laboratory doors, andeasily assembled at the customer's site.

2. The storage vat module comprises all necessary equipment for fullfunction of the sample storage area. Thus, adding a set of elements likestorage vat module, upper side walls, and cover plate together with thenecessary accessories, like ventilators and deep cooling devices, willdouble the storage capacity of the smallest working sample store.

3. Because of equipping each storage vat module with all necessaryaccessories, each storage vat module can be operated at an individualtemperature in the temperature range of +25° C. to −90° C.

4. Because of equipping each storage vat module with all necessaryaccessories, an existing low temperature store can be extended by addingadditional storage vat modules while the existing low temperature storecontinuously is in operation.

5. Functionally disconnecting accessories, like ventilators and deepcooling devices from the storage vat modules allows full servicing ofthese accessories without being obliged to thaw and empty a storage vatmodule.

6. The modular sample store provides high storage density in a compacthousing of very small foot print.

7. Full functionality of the motorized robot is provided when up-scalingas well as when down-scaling a modular sample store.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment amodular sample store is provided and includes a storage area for takingup a number of storage stacks, which are accomplished for being insertedin an essentially vertical direction and for storing sample containerstherein; a service area that is located adjacent to the storage area; atransfer area that is located above the storage area and the servicearea; a motorized robot that is located in the transfer area and that ismovable in at least one essentially horizontal direction, the robotcomprising a lifting device for lifting storage stacks at leastpartially out of the storage area and into the transfer area and forlowering storage stacks into the storage area; and ii) at least oneplatform for transporting at least one sample container within thetransfer area; and a controller for controlling all actions andmovements of the motorized robot, wherein the sample store service areacomprises one integrally formed cubic vat module and the sample storestorage area comprises at least one integrally formed cubic vat module,each one of said vat modules comprising an essentially horizontal vatfloor and four joining vat walls that are connected to the vat floor andthat are leaving an open vat space; wherein the modular sample storealso comprises upper side walls and a cover plate to close the samplestore; and wherein each vat floor and vat wall comprises an outsideliner and an inside liner, which outside and inside liners in each caseare separated by a clearance essentially being filled with a polymerfoam material that provides fixation of the outside and inside liners toeach other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to thethus integrally formed cubic vat module sandwich construction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment theintegrally formed cubic vat module(s) of the storage area and theservice area have the same size.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module is equipped with two upper side wallplates and one cover plate that have the same length as one of the vatmodules so as to form a functional segment of the modular sample store,and wherein the sample store also comprises a front wall plate and aback wall plate to close the sample store.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesample store also comprises a number of storage stacks that are insertedin an essentially vertical direction into the open vat space of one ofthe vat modules in the storage area and that are accomplished forstoring sample containers in an essentially horizontal position therein.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesample store also comprises an interface unit that is located in a partof the transfer area, which is situated over the service area and thatcomprises the service area and a lock, which is accomplished forlocking-in sample containers into the sample store and for locking-outsample containers out of the sample store, wherein the robot isimplemented for transporting at least one sample container to and fromthe interface unit.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesample store is accomplished as a temperature controlled modular samplestore and comprises at least one temperature control device forcirculating the air in the service area and in the transfer area of thesample store (1) and for controlling the air temperature to at most +25°C., preferably to at most +4° C., and more preferably to at most −20°C., said at least one temperature control device preferably beinglocated in working connection with an interface unit.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area of the samplestore comprises a first air outlet opening and a first air inlet openinglocated in a vat side wall, to which first air outlet opening isconnected a ventilator for circulating the temperature controlled air inthe integrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesample store is accomplished as a temperature controlled low temperaturemodular sample store and comprises at least one cooling device forcooling and controlling the air temperature to at most −20° C. and forcirculating the cooled air in the service area and in the transfer areaof the sample store, said at least one cooling device being located inworking connection with an interface unit.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area of the samplestore comprises at least one deep cooling device for deep cooling theair to a temperature of at least −80° C. and at least one ventilatorthat are connected to one first air outlet opening and to one first airinlet opening located in a vat side wall for circulating the deep cooledair in the integrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area of thesample store.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment theat least one deep cooling device and one ventilator are accommodated inone common housing, which is located outside the vat module, and whichis in working connection with each one of the vat modules via said firstair outlet and inlet openings located in each one of the vat side walls.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachone of the integrally formed cubic vat modules of the storage area ofthe sample store comprises at least one individual first deep coolingdevice and at least one individual ventilator that are accommodated inone common housing, which is located at the vat side wall outside thevat module (11), and which is in working connection with the vat module(11) via said first air outlet and inlet openings (32,39).

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area comprises secondair outlet and inlet openings situated in the vat side wall, to whichsecond air outlet and inlet openings is connected an individual seconddeep cooling device, which is located in a separate housing at the vatside wall outside the vat modules.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachone of said first and second air outlet openings and each one of saidfirst and second air inlet openings is equipped with a shutter forclosing the respective openings and thus separating one of a ventilator,a combination of a first deep cooling device and a ventilator, and acombination of a second deep cooling device and a ventilator from theintegrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area of the samplestore to which said openings guide.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachvat module of the storage area also comprises an air out channel and anair in channel that are situated at the inside of the vat side wall andthat mouth to inner openings, which lead to the vat space of each vatmodule of the storage area; the air out channel being connected to theair outlet openings and the air in channel being connected to the airinlet openings.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachone of said inner openings is located close to a longitudinal vat wallthat join said vat side wall, and wherein two air guiding blades withventilation holes are positioned in a distance to one or the other ofthe longitudinal vat walls for distributing deep cooled air to orcollecting deep cooled air form the vat space.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachconstruction part selected from the group comprising the integrallyformed cubic vat modules, the upper side walls, and the cover plates hasmechanical connecting elements for reversibly connecting two of theseconstruction parts mutually.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module of the storage area and of theservice area comprises carrying structures on the vat side walls and vatlongitudinal walls, which carrying structures support horizontal railsfor moving the robot in an X-direction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment themotorized robot comprises an insulated hood that is located in thetransfer area, the robot, when using the lifting device, being capableto lift an entire storage stack out of its original vat space and intosaid insulated hood, to transport the storage stack inside of saidinsulated hood within the transfer area, and to lower the storage stackinto a deep cooled vat space of another integrally formed cubic vatmodule of the sample store storage area.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment themotorized robot comprises an insulated hood that is located in thetransfer area, the robot, when using the lifting device, being capableto partially lift a storage stack into said insulated hood and up to alevel, which is accessible by a spatula of the robot; the spatula beingaccomplished to be moved into the insulated hood and below a certainsample container; the robot being accomplished to move said certainsample container out of the storage stack in horizontal direction and tomove this or another sample container into the storage stack inhorizontal direction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment themotorized robot is lacking an insulated hood and when using the liftingdevice, is capable of partially lifting a storage stack) up to a level,which is accessible by a spatula of the robot; the spatula beingaccomplished to be moved into the storage stack and below a certainsample container; the robot being accomplished to move said certainsample container out of the storage stack in horizontal direction and tomove this or another sample container into the storage stack inhorizontal direction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesample container is one of a multi-well microplate, a blood bag, a cellculture flask, and a microplate-sized micro-tube rack.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment therobot further comprises a Z-module for lifting a sample container in theform of a microplate-sized micro-tube rack from the spatula in avertical Z-direction and for setting said sample container onto a firstcarrier or onto a second carrier of the platform of the robot, bothcarriers (being individually movable in a horizontal X-direction and ina horizontal Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment therobot comprises a punching device for pushing a micro-tube out of acompartment of a first microplate-sized micro-tube rack or source plateinto a compartment of a second microplate-sized micro-tube rack ordestination plate.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thesource plate is located above the destination plate, the punching devicepushing down a micro-tube in vertical Z-direction.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachintegrally formed cubic vat module of the sample store storage areacomprises a guiding grid that is located in the vat space (16), that issupported by guiding posts standing on the vat floor, and that definesan array of apertures adapted to the size of storage stacks, each ofwhich storage stacks being vertically movable in one of these apertures;the guiding posts partly engaging slide grooves (63) located on twoopposite vertical sides of the storage stacks (3) and guiding verticalmovement of the storage stacks.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thestorage stacks comprise lateral support flanges with carrying webs thatcarry the weight of a storage stack when it is lowered to its lowermostposition in the vat space, the carrying webs of the lateral supportflanges being supported by the guiding grid.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thestorage stacks comprise an individual trunnion at their lower end, saidtrunnion carrying the weight of a storage stack when it is lowered toits lowermost position in the vat space by abutting the vat floor.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachstorage stack comprises at its upper end a carrying element that isengageable by the lifting device and that is attached to a carryingstructure with lateral support flanges equipped with mutual storage websfor supporting one sample container on top of the other and in ahorizontal position.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachstorage stack comprises an individual insulating cover at its upper end,the carrying element being located in a depression on the upper side ofthe individual isolating cover.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment eachstorage stack comprises surfaces to which is applied an anti-frostcoating.

In accordance with one more aspects of the disclosed embodiment, astorage method for storing and providing samples in a modular samplestore is provided. The method includes storing samples in a storage areafor taking up a number of storage stacks, which are accomplished forbeing inserted in an essentially vertical direction and for storingsample containers therein; providing a service area that is locatedadjacent to the storage area; providing a transfer area that is locatedabove the storage area and the service area; Providing a motorized robotthat is located in the transfer area and that is movable in at least oneessentially horizontal direction, the robot comprising: a lifting devicefor lifting storage stacks at least partially out of the storage areaand into the transfer area and for lowering storage stacks into thestorage area; and at least one platform for transporting at least onesample container within the transfer area; and controlling all actionsand movements of the motorized robot with a controller, wherein thesample store service area is provided with one integrally formed cubicvat module and the sample store storage area is provided with at leastone integrally formed cubic vat module, each one of said vat modulescomprising an essentially horizontal vat floor and four joining vatwalls that are connected to the vat floor and that are leaving an openvat space; wherein the modular sample store is closed by also providingupper side walls and a cover plate; and wherein each vat floor and vatwall that comprises an outside liner and an inside liner, which outsideand inside liners in each case are separated by a clearance, isessentially filled with a polymer foam material so that fixation of theoutside and inside liners to each other as well as thermal insulation ofand reinforcement to the thus integrally formed cubic vat modulesandwich construction is provided.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodimentstoring of a sample includes identifying and inserting a samplecontainer via a lock into an interface unit of the sample store; movingthe sample container with the robot to a selected storage stack with anempty storage position and positioning the sample container on aspatula; lifting the selected storage stack by the lifting device of therobot to a level that the empty storage position of the storage stack isreachable by the sample container positioned on the spatula; insertinginto the empty storage position of the storage stack the spatula withthe sample container positioned thereon; lowering the storage stack foran incremental distance to place the sample container on mutual storagewebs of lateral support flanges of the storage stack; withdrawing thespatula from the storage stack; and lowering the storage stack to itslowermost position in the vat space of the integrally formed cubic vatmodule of the sample store storage area.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodimentidentifying a sample container includes reading of a machine readableidentifier of the sample container; reading of additional informationprovided by the machine readable identifier; and measuring the averagetemperature of the sample container.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment theselected storage stack with an empty storage position is chosen by thecontroller according to at least one of the identifier of the samplecontainer; the additional information provided; and the averagetemperature of the sample container; and wherein the selected storagestack with an empty storage position is a pre-in/out storage stack or apermanent storage stack.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodimentstoring of a sample comprises keeping the air in the storage, service,and transfer areas of the sample store at a temperature in the rangefrom +25° C. to −20° C.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodimentstoring of a sample comprises keeping the air in the storage area at atemperature in the range from −20° C. to −90° C. and keeping the air inthe service and transfer areas at a temperature of −20° C.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment oneor more pre-in/out stacks are provided within the integrally formedcubic vat module of the storage area, which is located adjacent to theintegrally formed cubic vat module of the service area, and wherein theinterface unit of the sample store that comprises the lock is located inthat part of the transfer area of the sample store that is located aboveand that comprises the service area.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thetemperature of the cooled air within the vat space of the integrallyformed cubic vat module that contains the pre-in/out stacks is kept at atemperature lower than −80° C., preferably at −90° C., for compensatingheat input by sample containers arriving from the lock.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment themotorized robot controlled by the controller inserts sample containersinto storage stacks or withdraws sample containers from storage stacksaccording to a certain job request.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiment thecontroller forces the motorized robot to interrupt a requested job, ifthe longest allowable presence of one of the sample containers ormicro-tubes in that sample container has reached a limit that has beenset according to additional information, which has been provided by themachine readable identifier when locking-in the particular samplecontainer or micro-tube into the modular sample store.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 sample store

2 storage area

3 storage stack

4 sample container

5 service area

6 transfer area

7 motorized robot

8 lifting device

9 platform

10 controller

11 vat module

12 upper side walls, side wall plate

13 cover, cover plate

14 vat floor

15 vat wall

16 vat space

17 outside liner

18 inside liner

19 clearance

20 polymer foam material

21 multiplex plate

22 stainless steel sheet

23 functional segment

24 front wall plate

25 back wall plate

26 interface unit

27 lock

28 temperature control device

29 ventilator

30 cooling device

31 first deep cooling device

32 first air outlet opening

33 second deep cooling device

34 second air outlet opening

35 vat side wall

36 common housing

37 separate housing

38 shutter

39 first air inlet opening

40 second air inlet opening

41 longitudinal vat wall

42 air out channel

43 air in channel

44 inner opening

45 air guiding blade

46 venting holes

47 distance

48 mechanical connecting elements

49 carrying structures

50 horizontal rails

51 insulated hood

52 spatula

53 Z-module

54 first carrier

55 second carrier

56 punching device

57 compartment

58 source plate

59 destination plate

60 guiding grid

61 guiding posts

62 apertures

63 slide grooves

64 lateral support flanges

65 individual trunnion

66 carrying element

67 carrying means

68 mutual storage webs

69 Individual insulating cover

70 Depression

71 anti-frost coating

72 door

73 workstation

74 orientation pin

75 punching element

76 micro-tube

77 in/out stack

78 single plate interface

79 conveyor belt

80 deep cooling aggregate

81 evaporator

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular sample store comprising: a storage areafor taking up a number of storage stacks, each storage stack beingaccomplished for storing sample containers therein; a transfer arealocated above the storage area; and a motorized robot wherein themotorized robot includes a lifting device for lifting storage stacks atleast partially out of the storage areas in an essentially vertical orZ-direction and for lowering storage stacks into the storage area, andat least one platform for transporting at least one sample containerwithin the transfer area, the motorized robot using the lifting device,being configured to lift a selected storage stack so as to place the atleast one sample container in the transfer area and to transport the atleast one sample container within the transfer area.
 2. The modularsample store of claim 1, further comprising a hood disposed in thetransfer area over the storage area, and the motorized robot isconfigured to lift the selected storage stack into the hood.
 3. Themodular sample store of claim 2, wherein the hood is arranged so thatthe hood isolate the selected storage stack in the hood from anenvironment of the transfer area.
 4. The modular sample store of claim2, wherein the hood is arranged so that the hood is an insulated hoodthat thermally insulates the storage stack in the hood from atemperature of the transfer area.